Prom

Yesterday Melissa and Mark went to prom. Just turned 18 Melissa looks like a true film star, Hollywood in Bradenton!
This is Melissa's last prom at IMG, after the summer she will start at Loyola University (with the Fathers Jesuits ...) and play Division I tennis!

Diving at Coron

Four days of great diving at Coron (Basuanga Island) just finished ...

It was great to dive a 70 year old wreck of WWII, completely covered with coral, with still the remains of a car 32m deep after all those years. Wonderful to swim with turtles, watch the dugong and many sharks, to see even a Napoleon Wrasse with juvenile!

Absolute top were the house reef of the Paradise Island Resort and Apo Reef is world class. As was staying with Vicky at her guesthouse at Maricaban Bay.

The first picture is sunset from the boat returning from Dugong watching, the other is sunrise from Vicky's veranda. Hard to make a choice ...

Cebu

Just landed at Cebu, here I have a connecting flight to Coron. For the next six hours Bo's is my residence ...

Coron

Waiting at Singapore airport on my way for an Eastern weekend diving at Coron, the most northern island of Palawan, Philippines. Coron is famous for Dugongs (the only sea cows that fully live in salt water) and Japanese WOII wrecks.

A great number!

Today is a day with a great number, today is a day of a great figure!
Today Camilo (O Milo), the patriarch of the family, strong as the Chinese Wall, reaches the magic 77!
Many congratulations, many returns of the day!

Gulmohar

The Gulmohar (Delonix regia or Royal Poinciana in English) is an abundant flowering tree, that grows in many places in the world. And is also common in Mumbai.

This Gulmohar stands nearby Melissa in Florida

Today I was gifted a Gulmohar, 25 years old! Not as big as the tree on the picture above, but a beautiful bonsai. Full of promise to flower as fervently as you might expect of a flame tree, for many more years with the right care, the right soil, right watering, and of course: with the right sunlight.

We share a lifespan of 25 years, the bonsai and I. And we are hopeful for another great 25 years. Of flowers, sunlight and water. Hopeful and eager, of a future as we were.

CONGRATS for Melissa!

Many CONGRATULATIONS for Melissa, today turning 17!

Far away in Florida, working hard on tennis and in school, we want you to know how GREAT you are.

We love, care for you, and see so many great virtues in you.

And we wish you all happiness in life!

Beach Beauty at 16

American school girl with a real smile!

Strong and always carrying others!

Lovely ...

Some years back ...